Method of producing angle fittings



y 19, 1932- A. J. WEATHERHEAD, JR 1,363,037

METHOD OF PRODUCING ANGLE FITTINGS Filed April 13. 1927' 2 Sheets-Sheet1 nwntoz A. J. WEATHERHEAD, JR 1,868,037

METHOD OF PRODUCING ANGLE FITTINGS Filed April 15. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 214021441 rJWEnTHERl-mnn J Gum/mu:

Patented July 19, 1932 ALBERT J. WEATHEBEEAD, J'B., OF CLEVELAND, OHlIOMETHOD OF PRODUCING ANGLE FITTINGS Application filed April 13,

My invention relates to a method of producing pipe couplings, fittings,and the like, my object in general being to produce an exceptionallygood machined article of that land in a facile and economical way, allas hereinafter shown and described and more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an elbowcoupling or fitting constructed according to my invention, and Figs. 2and 3 are sectional views thereof, showing the expanding tool therein,as used finally in producing the article. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectionof the fitting on line 4-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectionaldetail of the finished joint. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a modifiedform of elbow fitting embodying the invention. Figs. 7 to 16, sheet 2,are sectional views and elevations of the two pieces or parts used toproduce a fitting as they appear in different stages of theirproduction, all as hereinafter more specifically described.

The present invention is espec1ally useful 95 in connection with smallelbows, Ts or angle fittings, for example, screw fittings or conplingsmade of brass and designed to couple tubes or pipes of small diametertogether or to connect a tube or pipe to some other ar t 1 cle adaptedto distribute a fluid or l quid, such as oil, air, etc. A commonpractice 1S to cast or mold such angle fittings 1 n one piece, andscrew-thread the extremities or branches thereof separately. Suchproceedings involve individual handling of the fittings and repeatedoperatlons thereon by skilled worlnnen, and the cost of production isaccordingly high considering the small size and nominal value of eacharticle produced. My aim is to eliminate casting or molding operationsaltogether and use extruded stock exclusively, producing therefrom byautomatic screw machine operat ons separate finished pieces adapted tobe unlted inseparably together in angular relatlon with fluid-tightsealing and interlocking effect.

Thus the invention comprises an angle fitting made of two separatepleces A and B, respectively. The main piece or body A 50 is out to apredetermined length from bar 1927. Serial No. 188,369.

stock or a solid rod, which may be square 1n cross section; Beginningwith such a solid piece A, as shown in Fig. 7, one end thereof is turnedround to provide a cylindrical branch 2. This branch is screwthreadedfor a part of its length, and the screw-thread may be formed externallyon a tapering branch 2, as shown in Fig. 10, or internally on a straightbranch 2 as illustrated in Fig. 6. Member A is also drilled at rightangles to provide two communicating bores or fluid passages 3 and 4,respectively. Bore 3 extends longitudinally of branch 2, and bore 4:extends transversely of body A. Bore 4 is closed at its inner end andcounterbored at its outer end 5 at one flat side of said body, see Fig.8. The circular wall of counter-bore 5 is undercut to provide an annulargroove or channel 6 opposite a flat shoulder portion 7 at the base ofthe counterbore, thereby also producing an inwardly-extending flange 8annularly at the mouth of said counterbore, see Fig. 9. This flange isthen serrated or punched-with fine teeth 9, as delineated in Figs. 10and 11.

The separate piece or branch member B is also cut to a predeterminedlength from bar or rod stock, and this piece is drilled lengthwise toform a tube, or short pieces of drawn tubing may be used instead. Theround bore 10 in this tubular piece is then drilled for the major partof its length, leaving a thicker zone or neck 11 at one end thereof, seeFig. 13. An annular shoulder or collar 12 is also formed externally ofthis piece by removing part of the stock or reducing the diameter of thepiece externally at each end. The oppositeends are relatively longandshort, collar 12 being preferably 11 or the inner end of the enlargedor broached part 10 of bore 10, see Fig. 14. The longer end 13 of pieceB may be tapered and then screw-threaded externally as shown in Fig. 15,or this end may be made straight and screw-threaded internally as shownat 13' in Fig. 6, to permit a screw connection to be made with a pipe,tube or other article.

Having two finished pieces or parts A and formed adjacent the base ofneck B as described, the next ste in operations is to assemble andsecure t em tightly together. This ma be accompllshed by inserting neck11 piece B into the serrated I counterbore in one side of body piece Auntil collar 12 is seated against the flat side thereof. A round tool 15is then inserted into the broached or enlarged part of bore of piece Band pressure is applied to force 1 its rounded extremity 16 through thereduced part of the bore, thereby expanding neck 11 until the stock atthe extremity of the neck is crowded into the annular groove or channel6 in body piece A. The stock in neck 11 opposite the serrated flange 8is also compressed and crowded by tool 15 against the sharp edged teethor serrations and into the interspaces between the teeth,

thereby sealing the joint between pieces A v 2 and B and also lookingthe piece B efiective- 1 against independent rotative movement. flockingof piece B to piece A is especially desirable as this part or piece issubjected to torsional stresses in making screw-connections with a pipeor other part. lVhen the ieces are joined together as stated, thefinished passage in the angularly-extending piece B is of the same orsubstantially the same diameter as bore 4 in body piece A, and a freeunobstructed passage is afforded at the joint.

What I claim is: 1. A method of producing angle fittings, consisting informing a zone of increased thickness at one end of a tubular part;forming a passage with a counterbored entrance; channeling the annularwall of said counterbored entrance parallel with respect to the axis ofsaid passage; and expanding the said end of said tubular part withinsaid entrance with non-rotatable fluid-tight interlocking engagementwith said wall.

2. A method of producing angle fittings, consisting informing a collarand screwthreads on opposite ends of a tubular part;

in forming a counterbored passage in a second part and fiuting andchanneling the counterbored part of said passage parallel with the axisthereof; in inserting the collar end of said tubular part into thecounterbore of said second part and pressing said parts tightly togetherto effect a fluid'tight, nonrotatable interlocking engagement of saidparts. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ALBERT J. WEATHERHEAD, JR.

